As instructed, I returned to the Interventional Radiology Department for a chest x-ray to see if the air bubble was being absorbed and the lung was expanding to fill the void. But I was told that they could not perform the chest xray at IR, I would have to go to Outpatient Radiology. I argued but was told that was policy.
Unfortunately, the bubble was still there. It was decided to place a vent tube in my chest to the air bubble, suck the air out place a vent in case more air leaked out of the lung. I had to wait until a radiologist would be available and until 4 hours after my morning meal, which was very late since we slept in. Plus, I had driven in and would not be able to drive home after being anesthetized. I took the car home and got Jana and we took a taxi back.
Placing the vent is minor, outpatient surgery and is done with a combination of local anesthesia and a “twilighting” anesthesia that puts you in a semi-conscious state (I think I was unconscious for part of the time). I was sent back to the recovery area, where Jana met me. They had me wait a short time to make sure I was fully conscious and then released me with instructions to return in two days to make sure that the lung was fully expanded. When they told me to return to IR for an xray, I said, “No, I’ve been through this before. I should go to outpatient radiology.” After a while the radiologist returned to say I was correct.
When I finally removed my clothes and looked at the vent, this is what I saw. The tube enters the chest at the lower end of the vent (the white box) and extends vertically up about 5 inches into what was the air pocket.
If the air bubble did not reoccur, I would be able to take the plane to Birmingham for my mother’s memorial service in a week.
